Echo joins forces with Southend Hospital for Hospital Heroes awards

THE Echo is joining forces with Southend Hospital to salute the extraordinary healthcare workers who help heal and save lives every day.

Patients, relatives and carers are being urged to nominate hospital staff for the Patient’s Champion category in the Southend Hospital Heroes awards.

It’s the second year of the awards and for the first time the hospital is opening one of the awards to the public to nominate a worthy recipient in the Patient’s Champion category.

Scroll down to fill in your nomination form

A hospital spokesman said: “So, whether you have been a patient, relative or are related to a potential Hospital Hero, we want your nominations for knights in nursing armour, your votes for spectacular Southend Hospital Heroes.

“They may have no cape, no super powers, but they are super-men and women. They’ve made a difference to you and your loved ones, now it’s time for them to stand tall, that they were recognised for their good deeds.”

Those initially nominated will then be shortlisted by a panel of judges made up of Chris Hatton, Echo deputy editor, Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of the hospital, Alan Tobias , chairman of the hospital and Claire Hankey, head of communications for the hospital.

Ms Totterdell said: “Like many ‘every day’ heroes Southend Hospital staff will tell you that they are just doing their job – which they are – but we also believe that they deserve recognition and we , in partnership with the Echo, are asking members of the public to nominate a Southend Hospital Hero.”

Chis Hatton, deputy editor of the Echo, added: “As a community paper we are proud to be part of these awards to find the unsung local heroes, to help find the super-men and women of Southend Hospital who help make a difference to so many people’s lives.”

Nominations close at 5pm on Wednesday July 30.

Nomination forms can be donwloaded below, picked up from the information desks at the hospital or at the Echo office at 18, Clarence Road, Southend.

Forms can also be downloaded from Southend Hospital's website - www.southend.nhs.uk.

Those shortlisted will then appear in the Echo, both in the paper and online, and the hospital website, where members of the public will be able to vote for their Hospital Hero Patients’ Champion 2014.